Man’s Life in conversation with Bangalore-based Digital Content Creator, Naved Qureshi
Naved Qureshi is a marketer who decided to become a digital content creator for producing good and meaningful content that provides value to his followers. Apart from the luxury lifestyle space, the influencer also focuses on-relatable fashion, fitness and fatherhood. Recently, Qureshi curated Autumn’21 X Naved Qureshi. We dig a little deeper to find out the thought process behind it. Excerpts from the interview…
What made you think of a concept like this?
“I curated this in an attempt to try and work hard to break down conventional barriers, and pass on a message to let people feel free to wear whatever they feel most comfortable in! To use clothes to showcase many sides of their personality, and to choose fashion that allows them to match their many moods, be versatile and give a glimpse of who they are as a person!”
How did you put together the looks?
“Step one was to look at the fashion predictions for Autumn-Winter’21 that most brands follow. Step two was to imagine and work on a story-board with 20 looks with my stylist across—formal, casual, colours themes—and themes like embellished, gender neutral, and so on. Then, we decided to scan the markets, multi-brands, menswear, womenswear, local markets, and even use things from both mine and my friends’ wardrobes—and put these looks together along with styling and even make-up! Finally, we gathered a stellar team to shoot it!”
What does fashion mean to you?
“Fashion to me, is an expression of freedom; freedom to self-express without prejudices or hesitation! I live (or want to live) in a world that’s non-judgemental, and free from prejudices. While I agree that historically clothing has signified the gender of the person wearing it, and dictated what jobs they can do OR how they can act and be treated, limiting their freedom to self-express. Fortunately now, that has changed or is changing quickly.”
“Now, more and more people are using fashion as a form of self-expression, but honestly with originality comes judgment from others—making it difficult for those who want to dress differently from these standards or expectations set by the society. A guy wearing pink used to be or still would be labelled ‘gay’ (not that there is anything wrong being gay) or ‘effeminate’ or get questioned about wearing this ‘feminine’ colour. Well, I think men look great in pink!”
Is personal style more important than following trends?
“I have lived by this quote by Gianni Versace when it comes to fashion: ‘Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live’.
“So personal style is more important, but while being conscious of the fact that you get what’s sold to you (trends); so you must be ready to break the barriers to fight for your personal style.”
How has the response been so far for Autumn’21 X Naved Qureshi?
“It has mostly been a whole lot of love through likes and comments. Plus, trolls; their comments on my posts are a testimony to the fact that it has invoked a thought process to be free from prejudices. We still have a long way to go before everyone feels comfortable enough to wear whatever they want; but I guess it’s a much-needed step to prevent anyone judging others because of how they are dressed.”
Qureshi even wore nail paint and used womenswear and accessories for this shoot. We love a man who is secure in his masculinity and is unafraid to shatter gender stereotypes. More power to him! May his tribe grow!
Eva Pavithran
Vertical Head - Lifestyle